Continuous hydrogen production from mixed organic acids by an enriched phototrophic sludge

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Phototrophic fermentation is one of the most promising processes to produce hydrogen, with higher substrates utilization efficiency compared to the dark fermentation, since it can utilize the byproduct of dark fermentation, the organic acids. The combination of dark and photo fermentation has been proposed as an efficient process. In order to put the two-step hydrogen producing process into practical application, a continuous phototrophic hydrogen production system should be conducted using mixed culture and a long time steady-state operation should be maintained….